Building and Construction.

Efficiency is the name of the game in building and construction. You may not be able to predict extreme weather events, supply shortages, workplace issues or regulatory changes but we’ll have you covered no matter what stands between you and improving your bottom line.

Our team has advised building and construction clients in the ACT, NSW and QLD on a range of projects including infrastructure, industrial, commercial office, and multi-unit housing. We assist clients such as builders, subcontractors, investors, engineers, consultants, developers and suppliers at every point of the project lifecycle.

No two projects are the same, but our objective remains constant: minimise your risk and let you get on with what you do best.

Construction Contracts

Successful projects stem from the care that’s taken at the outset, even before work has started at site. We help developers, builders and subcontractors plan for success and limit exposure by:

negotiating contracts

providing suites of standard documents, such as subcontracts, consultancy agreements and service agreements

setting up checklists and procedures for trade letting, works delivery, defects management and risk mitigation

providing support and training for project managers, contract administrators and principals

Security of Payment

Escalating payment disputes in the building and construction industry are costly and frustrating matters and no-one wants to end up in court. For that reason, the government introduced the Security of Payments scheme to ensure timely payments through an adjudication process.

Thousands of disputes are decided through this process every year.

Yet it’s an area of law that can get quite complicated, even if it was meant to make things easier. You need to get the right advice or end up missing out on all you’re entitled to (or forced to pay money you shouldn’t).

The Chamberlains team has an accredited in-house adjudicator who can help get a stalled matter moving, and provide no-nonsense advice designed get you the positive resolution that helps you move on.

Construction Litigation

When disputes arise in construction, you don’t want to be bogged down in marginal issues that prolong the matter and raise legal fees.

At Chamberlains our litigation lawyers have long experience themselves as property developers, and adjudicators, and quickly get to the heart of the matter to rigorously pursue your interests.

From small residential defect issues and contract disputes to civil disputes on multi-billion infrastructure projects, our insights and reputation as formidable advocates has made us a leading firm handling cases of varying complexity across many jurisdictions.

Related Practice Areas

As part of a full-service firm we can also draw on the legal and industry knowledge of our expert Chamberlains colleagues who represent almost every area of legal practice.

Louise Morris.

Louise is Chamberlains’ go-to person on any property and construction-related matter. Her reputation is understandable when you learn that she is the only property and construction lawyer around who has actually developed large-scale property … and lots of it.

She notched up more than 1000 residential units in her seven-year tenure as Director of an integrated property development and construction company and won the Australian Property Institute’s Young Achiever Award along the way. She’s also the only one in the office who can tell you the difference between a Manitou and a manatee.

When she’s not regaling you with the best method for shifting large loads, Louise is assisting her clients to realise growth and scale quickly by bringing a commercial focus to the technical application of the law. Louise brings the same intensity and determination to such efforts as she does to her long-time goal of living in a world where email is no longer the dominant species.

With her all-black garb and earthy language, Louise’s unique approach and knowledgeable counsel is much-sought-out by ASX company CEOs and individuals alike.

Michael Terry-Whitall.

Injury cut short his water polo career, but it definitely didn’t impede his competitive spirit. Since becoming a lawyer, Michael has carved an impressive career predominantly in construction litigation at large commercial law firms where he is well known for his aggressive approach which balanced by his ability to identify and achieve commercial outcomes for his clients.

While his will to win is admirable, it is his team mentality that now makes Michael a perfect member of Chamberlains. Based in Sydney, Michael heads up our Building and Construction Litigation team in both Sydney and Canberra and can be found regularly in the Supreme Courts of both jurisdictions.

As an elite athlete, Michael’s main complaint was often directed at the referee. Perhaps ironically, in his professional career Michael has become the legal equivalent of a referee in the construction industry as he is an accredited adjudicator under the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 (NSW).

Clients rave about Michael’s ability to deliver plain English advice and his tenacity in pursuing or defending claims. Michael’s experience as an advocate and as an adjudicator assists him to consistently deliver exceptional results to his clients.

When not practicing law, Michael maintains an avid interest in sport (particularly the NRL and his beloved Wests Tigers) and can usually be found playing sport, watching sport or thinking about sport.